A PJ Harvey Playlist

The first song I heard by Polly Jean Harvey was "Down By The Water" which opens this playlist I was hooked immediately (an appropriate analogy given how the song closes).

I found that she corresponded a lot with Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) when she was making her records. I have always been a fan of Beefheart and may do a playlist at some point, but this just showed to me that she was a brilliant artist with great musical connections.

She began her career in 1988 when she joined the local band Automatic Dlamini as a vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist. The band's frontman, John Parish, became her long-term collaborator. In 1991, she formed an eponymous trio called PJ Harvey and subsequently began her career as PJ Harvey.

Among the accolades shehas received are both the 2001 and 2011 Mercury Prize for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), respectively, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice

As I write this I am also listening to "The Hope Six Demolition Project" and I could possibly just include the songs from that album, but that would be so incredibly lazy. I also love the drawn heraldic design on the cover.

Her website contains a lot of information including her poetry and artwork.

So here are a few favourite songs. There are loads that I have missed out but I hope these make you want to find out more.

"Down By The Water" from "To Bring You My Love"

This is the first song that grabbed my attention by Polly Jean. It's brooding and threatening and just wound its way into my mind. It takes two minutes to hit the chorus and coda fade out. This is not a normal song construction but is one that you will not forget.

"The Devil" from "White Chalk"

This is just breathtaking. She taught herself piano to make the album. Absolutely stunning and almost gothic in feel and style. The metronome provides a definite rhythm in this as well. Amazing.

"The Last Living Rose" from "Let England Shake"

The second song from the Mercury Prize winning album and again shows her musicianship and that threat-laden electronic brass accompaniment.

"Sheela Na Gig" from Dry

I was aware of this before "Down By The Water". Listening to it in retrospect I wish I had taken more notice at the time, but I eventually discovered what an amazing artist that she is.

Sheela na gigs are figurative carvings of naked women displaying an exaggerated vulva. They are architectural grotesques found throughout most of Europe on cathedrals, castles, and other buildings. The greatest concentrations can be found in Ireland, Great Britain, France and Spain.

"The Words That Maketh Murder" from "Let England Shake"

The album track interspersed with Polly Jean playing the song on her autoharp and again so brooding but sounding like nothing else you have heard, and quoting Eddie Cochran. She does like including bits of famous mainstream songs in her compositions (check out "Sheela Na Gig").

"Satisfaction" from the 1994 BRIT Awards with Björk

Polly Jean is fine covering classic songs in her own style, and this cover of the Rolling Stones classic is slowed down and builds from a quiet start to a loudly mischievous climax from her and Björk.

"Community Of Hope" from "The Hope Six Demolition Project"

The opening song from the album that I am listening to at the moment. The "They're Gonna Put A Walmart Here" sung by the choir is something I find particularly disturbing, but an absolutely stunning album opener.

"The Ministry Of Defence" from "The Hope Six Demolition Project"

The monstrous opening chords to this demand you top everything and listen to this. This is the last song on this playlist.

Now go and check out more from the wonderful Polly Jean Harvey.